The BBC's Duncan Kennedy"A memorial that will reflect childhood and innocence" real 56kSarah's uncle, Keith Paynereads a poem in memory of his neice real 56kJonathan Goode, Sarah Payne's class teacher"The memories that each of us share will be with us forever" real 56k

Saturday, 12 August, 2000, 13:16 GMT 14:16 UK

Memorial service for murdered Sarah

Crowds of well-wishers are expected at the cathedral

The parents of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne have arrived at a memorial service for their daughter along with hundreds of wellwishers.

They gathered at Guildford Cathedral after Sarah's parents, Michael and Sara, insisted the service should be open to the public after the massive national reaction to the youngster's murder in West Sussex last month.

Sarah's favourite prayers and hymns will be read at the service to celebrate her eight years of life. The Archbishop of Canterbury sent a letter to the family which was presented
to them as they arrived for the service.

The service follows the couple's pledge to march to Parliament if the government does not introduce laws to clamp down on sex offenders.

They believe a change in the law would be the only positive legacy of their daughter's death.

Family tributes

Sarah's brothers Lee, 13 and Luke, 11, and six-year-old sister Charlotte arrived with their parents for the service which starts at the cathedral at 1400BST on Saturday.

The Sub Dean of the cathedral, Canon Maureen Palmer will lead the service and the Bishop of Dorking, the Right Reverend Ian Brackley will give a sermon.

Sarah's parents have pledged to march to Parliament

Tributes will be made by Sarah's uncle, Keith Payne, her aunt, Fiona Crook, and Jonathon Goode, her teacher at Bell Farm School in Hersham, Surrey.

Twelve white doves will be released from the Cathedral Green after the service.

Diocese spokeswoman Sally Hastings said the memorial would feature some of Sarah's favourite hymns, including All Things Bright and Beautiful, Lord of the Dance and Morning has Broken.

Loudspeakers

She said she did not know how many well-wishers and mourners would
attend but loudspeakers would relay the service to crowds outside once the
1,200-seat cathedral was full.

A private funeral service is expected to be held for the youngster after her body is released by the West Sussex coroner.

Loudspeakers will relay the service to people outside the cathedral

A second post-mortem was carried out on Wednesday in an effort to speed up that process and establish the cause of death.

Sarah's naked body was found dumped in a field beside the A29 near Pulborough,
West Sussex, on July 17, more than two weeks after she disappeared from fields near her grandparents home near East Preston.

The place where he body was found became a shrine as thousands of flowers, toys and messages were left along the roadside.

A 41-year-old man, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, has been arrested twice in connection with the murder but on both occasions was released without charge.

Posh Spice

Sarah's parents became involved in the anti-paedophile campaign after the News of the World published the names and locations of 200 sex offenders.

The couple support a change in the law for tighter controls but they have urged the public to stop the outbreaks of vigilante protest which have also followed the newspaper's campaign.

Posh Spice Victoria Beckham is also reported to be backing the campaign to name and
shame paedophiles.

During a live internet interview she said she would want to know if there were paedophiles living near her family.

"As much as everyone says they shouldn't be doing it, I bet a lot of people picked up the paper to see "Is there one near me?"" she said.